Edwin Lunar Chapter 36: The Secret of Orion

Read chapter 36 of Edwin Lunar by MananTayal on NovelPedia.

The skies above Lunar Dominion Academy remained uneasy long after the Vanguard warship vanished. Even two days later, academy defense fleets still patrolled the silver clouds surrounding Noroel while emergency shields covered every major tower. Students whispered constantly in corridors now, sharing theories about the giant ship that appeared above the academy. Some believed another war had begun. Others believed Groader had returned. But only a few knew the truth. And Edwin Lunar had become the center of all of it. He stood alone now inside one of the highest academy balconies overlooking the endless skies beyond Noroel. Cold wind moved through his blonde hair while the ring on his hand glowed faintly beneath the moonlight. Vael's words still echoed inside his mind. We followed Wingard Lunar. If you want the truth about your father… come beyond the stars. The balcony door opened quietly behind him. Headmaster Humming stepped outside. For several moments— Neither spoke. The old Marshal walked slowly toward the balcony railing beside Edwin. Far below them, floating academy towers shined softly against the night. "You are angry," Humming finally said. Edwin looked toward the distant stars silently. "You lied to me." The words came out sharper than expected. But Humming did not deny them. "Yes." Silence followed again. Edwin clenched his fists slightly. "All this time… everyone kept hiding things about my parents." His voice lowered. "Why?" Humming's silver eyes reflected the night sky quietly. "Because the truth became dangerous." "That's not an answer." "No," Humming admitted softly. "It is not." The Headmaster finally looked directly at Edwin. "Your father was my closest friend." The sentence alone changed the atmosphere completely. Edwin turned toward him slowly. "Then tell me everything." Wind echoed softly around the academy towers. And for the first time— Headmaster Humming began telling the full story. "Twenty years ago," he said quietly, "before the Great War… Noroel was different." Silver holographic images appeared between them. A younger Humming. Wingard Lunar. Edlin Lunar. And several elite warriors standing together beneath the Orion symbol. The First Orion Team. "They were the strongest group the academy had ever trained." The holograms shifted. Young Wingard stood at the center of the team smiling confidently while holding the silver ring before it was completed. Edwin stared silently. His father looked almost exactly like him. "Orion was created to explore regions beyond the Noor System," Humming explained. "The outer sectors." The holographic map expanded far beyond known space. Dark unexplored zones appeared between distant stars. "Your father believed the Dominion had become isolated." The images shifted again. Ancient ruins floating through space. Destroyed fleets. Unknown civilizations. Edwin's eyes widened slightly. "There are other civilizations?" "Yes." The answer came quietly. "And some are older than humanity itself." Even after everything Edwin experienced— That sentence still felt impossible. Humming continued: "During one expedition, Orion discovered something hidden beyond the outer systems." The holograms darkened. A giant structure appeared floating in deep space. Not mechanical. Not natural. Ancient black metal stretched endlessly around a glowing red core. Even the hologram itself distorted around it. "The Eclipse Heart." The name echoed heavily. Edwin felt cold instantly. Humming's voice lowered. "It was the original source of corrupted Flame energy." The images shifted violently again. Groader standing before the Heart. Researchers studying its power. Machines awakening. The beginning of Eclipse. "Groader believed its energy could evolve humanity." Humming closed his eyes briefly. "Wingard disagreed." The holograms showed arguments inside ancient command rooms. The First Orion Team splitting apart. Some following Groader. Others following Wingard. "The Great War began soon after." Edwin stared